Washing machine system



Jan. 17, 1967 Q R. w. HOUSER 3,298,525

y WASHING MACHINE SYSTEM Filed May 15, 1964 INVENTOR. ROY W. HOUSERdawfwa HIS ATTORNEYS 3,2as,52s WASHING MACHINE SYSTEM .Roy W. Houser,Orange, (Ialifl, assignor to Rohertshaw Controls Company, Richmond, Va,a corporation of Delaware Filed May 15, 1964-, Ser. No. 367,652 9Claims. (Cl. 210144) This invention relates to an improved washingmachine or the like having means to terminate the operation thereofshould the unbalanced condition of the spinning washing compartmentthereof exceed a predetermined value.

This invention also relates to an improved method for operating such awashing machine or the like and to improved parts for such a washingmachine or the like.

It is Well known that many automatic washing machines or thelike have aWashing compartment which is rotated or spun at a relatively high speedto centrifuge the water out of the clothes contained in the spinningwashing compartment, such a spinning action normally taking place afterwash and rinse cycles of the machine.

However, itis also Well known that the distribution of the clothes inthe washing compartment sometimes is not uniform whereby there is anunbalanced condition in the washing compartment so that when the same issubsequently spun, the washing compartment rotates in an eccentricmanner which is not only detrimental to the parts of the washingmachine, but also creates adverse noise and walking of the machine.

Therefore, some means must be provided for turning off the washingmachine when such unbalanced condition exceeds a predetermined value.

According to the teachings of this invention, such improved means areprovided in a simple and effective manner as will be apparenthereinafter.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide an improvedwashing machine having one or more of the novel features of thisinvention as set forth above or hereinafter shown or described.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved means foroperating such a washing machine or the like.

A further object of this invention is to provide improved parts for sucha washing machine or the like.

Other objects, uses and advantages of this invention are apparent from areading of this description which proceeds with reference to theaccompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic view illustrating the improved washing machinesystem of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary top view of the program member of thisinvention.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary view of the on-oif member of FIGURE 1 in oneof the operating positions thereof.

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 and illustrates another operatingposition thereof.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view illustrating another embodiment of thisinvention.

While the various features of this invention are hereinafter describedand illustrated as being particularly adaptable for controlling theoperation of a washing machine or the like, it is to be understood thatthe various features of this invention can be utilized singly or in anycombination thereof to provide structures and methods for other devicesas desired.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodimentsillustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merely utilized toillustrate one of the wide variety of uses of this invention.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, an improved washing machine system of thisinvention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 10 andcomprises a frame means 11 suitably supporting a rotatable washingcompartment or tub 12 in a conventional manner whereby the desiredquantity of clothes can be placed in the washing compartment 12 to bewashed in a conventional manner.

The complete cycle or cycles of operation of the wash- .ing machinesystem 10 is controlled by a rotatabie program member 13 movablerelative to a reading head 14 having a plurality of passage means 15formed therethrough and interconnected to various devices in a mannerhereinafter set forth, the program member 13 comprising a flexiblereading sheet 16, a rigid backing member 17 and a porous resilientmaterial 18 disposed between the backing member 17 and the reading sheet16.

As illustrated in FIGURE 2, the reading sheet 16 has a plurality ofraised blisters 19 formed therein in a pre- 1 determined pattern wherebyeach blister 19 defines a channel means 20 in the manner illustrated inFIGURE 1 to respectively interconnect two or more passage means 15together when the reading sheet 16 is rotated relative to the readinghead 14.

In this manner, one of the passage means 15 illustrated .in FIGURE 1 canbe interconnected to the inlet side of a vacuum pump 21 by a flexibleconduit means 22 while an adjacent passage means 15-can beinterconnected to a vacuum operated actuator 23 by a flexible conduitmeans 24, the actuator 23 comprising a flexible bellows having one end25 fixed from movement relative to the frame means 11 and the other end26 thereof movable relative to the frame means 11 in a mannerhereinafter set forth.

Thus, when a particular blister 19 of the reading sheet 16 is disposedin the position illustrated in FIGURE 1, it can be seen that theinterior of the vacuum operated actuator 23 is interconnected to theinlet side of the vacuum pump 21 by the channel 20 of the reading sheet16 whereby the vacuum pump 21 is adapted to evacuate the actuator 23 andcause the movable wall 26 thereof to move toward the fixed wall 25thereof in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 3 to operate any suitabledevice.

When it is desired to terminate the actuation of the actuator. 23, asuitable aperture means 27 formed through the reading sheet 26 isbrought into alignment with the left hand passage means 15 in thereading head 13 whereby air is adapted to enter the interior of theactuator 23 through the aperture 27, passage means 15, and conduit means24 so that the bellows construction 23 can return to its normal positionas illustrated in FIGURE 4, the other passage means 15 leading to thevacuum pump 21 being sealed off by an unblistered portion of the readingsheet 16 adjacent the aperture means 27.

In this manner, it can readily be seen that the program member 13 can bedriven by a suitable electrical timer .motor at a substantially constantrate relative to the reading head 14 whereby the blisters 19 andaperture means 27 of the reading sheet 16 effectively and sequentiallycontrol various vacuum operated actuators for controlling the particularoperating means of the washing machine system 10 in the mannerpreviously described.

In order to start the operation of the washing machine system 10, asuitable electrical switch 23 must be closed to interconnect togetherthe leads 29 and 30 thereof so that electrical current can be suppliedto all of the electrical devices of the washing machine system 10, theterminals 29 and 30 being electrically interconnected together bysuitable switching structure when a movable plunger 31 is depressedinwardly in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 1 and are electricallydisconnected from each other when the plunger 31 is permitted to extendoutwardly to the position illustrated in FIGURE 4.

The electrical switch 28 is suitably mounted to a con- 'pression spring37 is disposed between the knob 36 and the control panel 32 to tend tourge the shaft 34 from its ON position illustrated in FIGURE 1 to itsOFF position illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4.

The other end of the shaft 34 has an annular recess 33 defined thereinand disposed adjacent a camming beveled surface 39 at the end 40 thereoffor a purpose hereinafter described.

A latch member 41 has an end 42 hinged to the control panel 32 and has alooped latching portion 43 intermediate the end 42 and the other end 44thereof, the other end 44 being directly interconnected to the movablewall 26 of the actuator 23 by a member 45.

With the system disposed in its OFF position as illustrated in FIGURE 4,the operator makes a selection of the particular cycle for the washingmachine system 10 by positioning the program member 13 in the desiredposition in any suitable manner and, thereafter, pushes inwardly on theknob 36 of the on-otf means 33 in opposition to the force of thecompression spring 37 to cause the camming surface 39 of the end 40thereof to cam against the looped portion 4.3 of the latching member 41and cause the same to move downwardly in the manner illustrated inFIGURE 1 and move the plunger 31 of the switch means 28 inwardly toelectrically interconnect the terminals 29 and 30 thereof whereby thewashing machine system 1%) is turned on. on-off means 33 has been pushedinwardly to the position illustrated in FIGURE 1, it can be seen thatthe looped vportion 43 of the latching member 41 is snapped into therecess 38 thereof to hold the shaft 34 in the position illustrated inFIGURE 1 even though the compression spring 37 is tending to return theon-off means 33 from the ON position illustrated in FIGURE 1 to the OFFposition illustrated in FIGURE 4.

Thus, it can be seen that when the on-oif means 33 is moved inwardlyrelative to the control panel 32 in the above manner, the entireelectrical system for the washing machine system 10 is energized so thatthe washing machine can proceed to operate through its entire cycle ofoperation as the program member 13 is continuously rotated relative tothe reading head 14 by the now energized electrical timer means thatdrives the program member 13 relative to the reading head 14.

However, when the program member 13 comes to the end of the selectedcycle thereof, a particular blister 19 of the reading sheet 16 comesinto the position illustrated in FIGURE 1 and interconnects the vacuumsource 21 with the interior of the bellows construction 23 to cause thesame to be pulled downwardly in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 3whereby the looped portion 43 of the latching member 41 is withdrawnfrom the annular recess 33 of the shaft member 34 so that the shaftmember 34 can be axially moved to the left to its OFF position by theforce of the compression spring 37 as illustrated in FIGURE 3 while thelowered latch member 41 maintains the switch 28 in its closed position.

Subsequently, an aperture means 27 of the program sheet 16 comes intocommunication with the left hand passage of the reading head 14 tointerconnect the atmosphere to the interior of the bellows construction23 so that the same can return to its normal atmospheric conditions asillustrated in FIGURE 4 and permit the plunger 31 of the switch 28 toextend outwardly to the position illustrated in FIGURE 4 whereby theelectrical connection between the leads 29 and 30 is terminated bysuitable switching structure so that the entire electrical system of thewashing machine 10 is terminated until the on-off means 13 is againactuated in the above manner.

Therefore, it can be seen that once the washing ma- When the shaft 34 ofthe chine system 10 is turned on by the on-off means 33, the electricalsystem of the washing machine remains energized until the program means13 causes movement of the on-olf means 33 to its OFF position by theactuation of the actuator 23 in the manner previously described.

However, during the conventional working cycle of the system 10, it hasbeen found that if the clothes are unevenly distributed in the washingcompartment 12 thereof during a subsequent spinning operation of thewashing compartment 12, the washing compartment 12 rotates in aneccentric manner because of the unbalanced condition thereof and sucheccentric movement of the washing compartment 12 is detrimental to thewashing machine if the same exceeds a predetermined limit.

Therefore, this invention provides means for terminating the operationof the washing machine system 10 should the unbalanced condition of thespinning washing compartment 12 exceed a predetermined value, such meansbeing generally indicated by the reference numeral 46 in FIGURE 1 andnow to be described.

As illustrated in FIGURE 1, a metallic bracket memher or means 47 issuitably fastened to the frame means 11 of the washing machine bysuitable fastening means 48, the bracket means 47 having a movableportion 49 integrally interconnected thereto by a looped portion 51)which forms a resilient means to tend to normally hold the movableportion 49 in the position illustrated in full line in FIGURE 1. i

A flexible bellows construction 51 has an end 52 thereof fixed to thebracket means 47 and an opposed end 53 thereof fixed to the movableportion 49 of the bracket means 47. The interior of the bellowsconstruction 51 is interconnected to the conduit 24 by a flexibleconduit means 54 whereby the interior'of the bellows construction 51 isinterconnected to the interior of the, bellows construction 23.

The end 53 of the bellows construction 51 has a suitable opening formedtherein and normally covered by a poppet type or flapper type valvemember 55.

The movable portion 49 of the bracket means 47 is so constructed andarranged that the same is adapted to be engaged by the spinning washingcompartment 12 if the same is spinning in an eccentric manner wherebythe spinning washing compartment 12 is adapted to strike the movableportion 49 of the bracket means 37 and move the same to the dotted lineposition illustrated in FIGURE 1 whereby the bellows construction 51 iscollapsed and the air therein is adapted to be expelled out through theflapper valve 55.

However, when the movable portion 49 is adapted to spring back from thedotted line position illustrated in FIGURE 1 to or beyond the full lineposition illustrated in FIGURE 1 by the resilient means 50 of thebracket means 47, the bellows construction 51 subsequently eX- pands andsince the bellows construction 51 has the opening in the wall 53 thereofclosed by the valve 55, the expanding bellows construction 51 is adaptedto evacuate the bellows construction 23 with a pumping action.

Thus, should a repeated pumping action of the bellows construction 51 beso produced by the spinning washing compartment 12 having an unbalancedcondition thereof exceeding the predetermined value, the bellowsconstruction 23 is suitably evacuated by the pumping action of thebellows construction 51 whereby the latch member 41 is unlatched fromthe on-off means 33 to permit the same to turn to its OFF position asillustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4 to completely terminate the cycle of theoperation of the washing machine system 10 regardless of the position ofthe program means 13 relative to the reading head 14.

Therefore, it can be seen that the sensing means 46 of this invention isadapted to sense when the spinning washing compartment 12 has anunbalanced condition thereof exceeding a predetermined value and will,thereafter, automatically terminate the operation of the washing machinesystem 10 independent of the normal means for terminating the operationof the washing machine systerm 10.

While the sensing means 27 has been described as having a particularconfiguration thereof, it is to be understood that the same can bemodified in any desired manner and still fall within the scope of theappended claims.

For example, reference is made to FIGURE wherein another sensing meansof this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 56 andcomprises an L- shaped bracket member 57 having a mounting plate 58thereon for mounting the same to the suitable frame means of the washingmachine or the like.

A movable member 59 is hinged to an arm 60 of the mounting bracket 57 bysuitable hinge means 61 and is normally held in the position illustratedin FIGURE 5 by a tension spring 62 having one end 63 fastened to thebracket member 57.

A bellows construction 65 is disposed between the arm 66 of the mountingbracket 57 and the movable portion 59 and has the opposed ends thereofrespectively secured to the arm 66 and the movable portion 59 wherebymovement of the movable portion 59 relative to the arm 66 of thestationary member 57 by an unbalance spinning washing compartment causesa pumping action of the bellows construction 65 in the same manner asthe bellows construction 51 previously described and for the samepurpose.

Therefore, it can be seen that not only does this invention provide animproved washing machine and method for operating the same, but alsothis invention provides improved parts for such a washing machine or thelike.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed asrequired by the statutes, other forms may be used, all coming within thescope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. In a washing machine having a washing compartment, means for spinningsaid washing compartment and manually operated movable on-oif means foroperating said washing machine, the improvement comprising remotelycontrolled single actuator means for causing movement of said on-offmeans from its on position to its off position when said actuator meansis actuated, remote control means for actuating said single actuatormeans, and sensing means operatively interconnected to said singleactuator means and being responsive to the unbalanced condition of saidspinning washing compartment to actuate said actuator meansindependently of said remote control means when said unbalancedcondition exceeds a predetermined value.

2. In a washing machine as set forth in claim 1, said remote controlmeans comprising program means for actuating said actuator means at theend of a cycle of operation of said washing machine.

3. In a washing machine having a washing compartment, means for spinningsaid washing compartment and manually operated movable on-ofi? means foroperating said washing machine, the improvement comprising a re motelycontrolled pneumatically operated actuator means I for causing movementof said on-oif means from its on position to its off position when saidactuator is actuated, remote control means to pneumatically actuate saidactuator means, and sensing means operatively interconnected to saidactuator means and being responsive to the unbalanced condition of saidspinning washing compartment to pneumatically actuate said actuatormeans independently of said remote control means when said unbalancedcondition exceeds a predetermined value.

4. In a washing machine as set forth in-claim 3, said remote controlmeans comprising program means for pneumatically actuating said actuatormeans at the end of a cycle of operation of said washing machine.

5. In a washing machine having a washing compartment, means for spinningsaid washing compartment and manually operated movable on-olfs means foroperating said washing machine, the improvement comprising a remotelycontrol vacuum operated actuator for causing movement of said on-offmeans from its on position to its off position when said actuator isevacuated, remote control means for evacuating said actuator, andsensing means operatively interconnected to said actuator and beingresponsive to the unbalanced condition of said spinning washingcompartment to evacuate said actuator independently of said remotecontrol means when said unbalanced condition exceeds a predeterminedvalue.

6. In a washing machine as set forth in claim 5, a vacuum source, saidremote control means comprising means to interconnect said vacuum sourcewith said actuator at the end of a cycle of operation of said Washingmachine.

7. In a washing machine as set forth in claim 6, said last-named meanscomprising a program member.

8. In a washing machine having a washing compartment, means for spinningsaid washing compartment and movable on-off means for operating saidwashing machine, the improvement comprising a vacuum operated actuatorfor causing movement of said on-off means from its on position to itsoff position when said actuator is evacuated, and sensing meansoperatively interconnected to said actuator and being responsive to theunbalanced condition of said spinning washing compartment to evacuatesaid actuator when said unbalanced condition exceeds a predeterminedvalue, said sensing means including an expansible and collapsibleelement adapted to pump air from said actuator by the action of theeccentric motion of said unbalanced washing compartment.

9. In a washing machine having a washing compartment, means for spinningsaid washing compartment and movable on-olf means for operating saidwashing machine, the improvement comprising a vacuum operated actuatorfor causing movement of said on-off means from its on position to itsoff position when said actuator is evacuated, and sensing meansoperatively connected to said actuator and being responsive to theunbalanced condition of said spinning washing compartment to evacuatesaid actuator when said unbalanced condition exceeds a predeterminedvalue, said sensing means including an expansible and collapsibleelement adapted to pump air from said actuator by the action of theeccentric motion of said unbalanced washing compartment, said sensingmeans including a bracket means interconnecting one end of said elementto said machine and having a movable portion interconnected to the otherend of said element.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,624,464 1/1953Morrison 210--144 2,990,705 7/1961 Bochan 6812 3,043,328 7/1962 Taylor6812 X 3,048,026 8/1962 Bochan et al 6823 X 3,112,630 12/1963 Andersonet al 6812 3,145,818 8/1964 Stelli 210l44 X FOREIGN PATENTS 920,374 1/1947 France.

REUBEN FRIEDMAN, Primary Examiner.

J. DECESARE, Assistant Examiner.

1. IN A WASHING MACHINE HAVING A WASHING COMPARTMENT, MEANS FOR SPINNINGSAID WASHING COMPARTMENT AND MANUALLY OPERATED MOVABLE ON-OFF MEANS FOROPERATING SAID WASHING MACHINE, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING REMOTELYCONTROLLED SINGLE ACTUATOR MEANS FOR CAUSING MOVEMENT OF SAID ON-OFFMEANS FROM ITS ON POSITION TO ITS OFF POSITION WHEN SAID ACTUATOR MEANSIS ACTUATED, REMOTE CONTROL MEANS FOR ACTUATING SAID SINGLE ACTUATORMEANS, AND SENSING MEANS OPERATIVELY INTERCONNECTED TO SAID SINGLEACTUATOR MEANS AND BEING RESPONSIVE TO THE UNBALANCED CONDITION OF SAIDSPINNING WASHING COMPARTMENT TO ACTUATE SAID ACTUATOR MEANSINDEPENDENTLY OF SAID REMOTE CONTROL MEANS WHEN SAID UNBALANCEDCONDITION EXCEEDS A PREDETERMINED VALUE.